Shaun Wright-Phillips has dug up a claim he made about Ben White and Raphael Varane that has aged VERY well.
The former Manchester City and Chelsea winger appeared on talkSPORT in 2021 and was discussing two of that summer’s biggest deals.
Arsenal completed a £50million move to sign White from Brighton, while Man United signed Varane from Real Madrid for a reported £41million.
While 23-year-old White moved to north London off the back of fine seasons for Leeds and Brighton, Man United’s move saw them sign a three-time LaLiga champion and a four-time Champions League winner in a deal that was seen as a major coup.
Discussing the deal at the time, Wright-Phillips left fans stunned with his surprise view.
Asked if White will do better than Varane, Wright-Phillips said: “Yes, I personally do.
READ MORE ON PREMIER LEAGUE
“I know it’s a big statement but he’s used to the Premier League and he’s used to defending a lot for Brighton, week in, week out.
“Varane has come in to a whole new league and he’s going to be put under immense pressure.
“At this moment, I’d rather sign Ben White.”
In the clip, even Arsenal favourite Jack Wilshere can be seen looking surprised, but time has proven that he was right, with Wright-Phillips resharing the clip with an embarrassed face emoji three years on.
4
4
4
Since joining Arsenal, White has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, playing predominantly now as a right-back.
The 26-year-old has made 134 appearances for Arsenal and established himself as a core player in Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing side.
Varane’s move to Man United, meanwhile, didn’t work out quite as well. He ended up playing 94 times for a side who have finished sixth, third and eighth in the Premier League before leaving the club this summer.
In an emotional video on the club’s website, Varane said: “It’s been an amazing few years to play for this special club and that shirt.
“I fell in love with the club and the fans. You have to play for Man United to understand what that represents.
“Despite the fact we have had a difficult season, I am very positive for the future. The new owners are coming with a clear plan and a great strategy.”
Wright-Phillips might be coy about his surprisingly correct prediction, but he’s likely to have most fans asking for the lottery picks now…
Leave a Reply